B7 Microbes

Question 1

Influenza is a disease caused by a…

Answer 1

Virus

Question 2

Meningitis is a disease that can be caused by a…

Answer 2

Bacterium

Question 3

Ring worm is a disease caused by a…

Answer 3

Fungus

Question 4

E. Coli, which causes food poisoning, is an example of a…

Answer 4

Bacterium

Question 5

Which of these illnesses is caused by a bacterium? Measles, Salmonella food poisoning, AIDS or Influenza?

Answer 5

Salmonella food poisoning

The others are all caused by viruses.

Question 6

Name an illness caused by a virus.

Answer 6

Measles, AIDS, Influenza, Bird Flu, SARS, Hepatitis, Chicken Pox

Question 7

Suggest why it is important to wash your hands after using the toilet.

Answer 7

You are likely to pick up many bacteria and viruses.
Some of these can make you ill.

Question 8

Suggest why it is necessary to keep some foods in a refrigerator.

Answer 8

Microbes such as bacteria and fungi live in food.
In warm conditions they will grow and spoil the food.
Spoiled food could taste bad or make us ill.

Question 9

Suggest how microbes could be useful in the garden.

Answer 9

Microbes such as bacteria and fungi help decompose garden waste.
This is how we make compost, which can be used as a fertiliser.

Question 10

Suggest how microbes could be unhelpful in the kitchen.

Answer 10

Some of the microbes that live in food could make us ill.
Raw food must be kept separate from cooked food.

Question 11

Yeast is usually added to bread dough some time before it is baked. Explain how yeast causes bread to rise.

Answer 11

Yeast cells respire, releasing carbon dioxide.
Carbon dioxide forms bubbles in the dough.

Question 12

Suggest two reasons why it is important to cook certain foods properly.

Answer 12

Some of the microbes that live in food could make us ill.
Cooking food kills the microbes.

Question 13

Write down the word equation for anaerobic respiration (fermentation).

Answer 13

Glucose –> Carbon Dioxide + Ethanol